On Monday, October 25, Imperial Irrigation District completed construction of the first phase of its BACM (Best Available Control Measure) air quality project at the Salton Sea’s Red Hill Bay to implement dust control measures.

Using a bull plow pulled behind a tractor, IID's contractor constructed furrows (long narrow ditches typically used in farming for planting or seed irrigation) to modify airflow across the dry lakebed to help decrease the wind velocity at the ground surface.

The furrows will trap soil and dust particles, removing these from the air on the project site during wind events. Dirt clods from the furrowing act as armor on the surface adjacent to each furrow. Each set of furrows is approximately 30 feet wide. In phases 2 and 3 of the project, the spaces between furrows will be filled with vegetation and irrigation infrastructure.

Additional earth work was also completed to fill deep holes that posed safety concerns and remove berms that would interfere with water flow to the planned vegetation. When complete, the native vegetation planted by IID will cover roughly 30%, or one square mile, of exposed playa at Red Hill Bay.

This tillage work completed in the first phase has the potential to reduce dust emissions by up to 90%. Future project phases will address the site’s water supply, irrigation and seeding, with vegetation established to the required criteria within five years.

IID remains committed to managing dust emissions at the Salton Sea by implementing proactive dust control measures and projects. The district will continue to put all of its efforts and resources into the development of not just the Red Hill Bay site, but additional proactive dust control projects as outlined in IID’s Salton Sea Air Quality Mitigation Program. The health and safety of all communities in and around the Salton Sea remain a priority for the district.

 These long narrow ditches created by IID will decrease wind velocity on the dry lakebed and trap soil and dust particles. In future phases, the spaces between furrows will be filled with vegetation and irrigation infrastructure.

Earlier photo of the playa at Red Hill Bay.